"Rest" Day

 

 

 

 

The past few weeks have been a little more hectic than usual.  Competing in the CrossFit Open has kept me pretty busy.  I have been focusing on preparing for the week's WOD (assigned workout) and then being judged on the workout in order to submit my score.  I will write a post once it's done to fill you in on the experience but today, I finally took a few minutes to relax.  I did some errands but I also tried out a recipe from my newest cookbook, Against All Grain by Danielle Walker.

The recipes are great for those following the paleo diet but also for those of us that are just trying to eat cleaner.....even when it comes to dessert.

You can check out Danielle's story and some of her recipes here and I've posted some pictures for you of her Paleo 7 Layer Bars.  As delicious as the original and pretty to boot.

For the recipe, go here: AAG-7 layer bars

 

 

 

Drive

It happens when you are exhausted, have a list of to-dos a mile long and you still push to take advantage of every minute of every day.  When you put so much effort into experiencing as much as you can and make time for others as much as you make time for yourself. It's right then that you feel the truth of the saying, "Life is Short".

 

Sometimes it applies because you feel like there isn't enough time in the day.  Sometimes it's an excuse to do something you want to do in lieu of something you should do.  Other days, days like today, it's because in the midst of the busy that is you life, you are forced to stop and look that saying square in the eye and feel it's true meaning.  Things can change in an instant.  What/If/When you aren't here tomorrow?  Will you have accomplished something in your life?  Do people know what they meant to you?  Was there something you should have done but kept putting it off?

I'm coming off the high of achieving something I didn't think was possible and have been distracted by thoughts swirling in my head. Remember a few posts ago when I said I was trying out CrossFit? Well, that deserves it's own post to update y'all but bottom line?  I'm hooked. Only six weeks in and I'm already seeing a difference in my strength, mindset and body.  It's got me thinking about how I have arrived at this. Why didn't I do it earlier?  Maybe I wasn't ready but after kicking some butt this past week and feeling the love from some fellow CrossFitters I was reminded how good it feels to be a part of a team. 

For those that don't know this, I played soccer for most of my school years.  At the time, they didn't separate the girls and boys so as we got older and less girls played outside of the school team, I was lucky to adopt a team of brothers.  They picked on me  and told my dad everything I did when he wasn't around, just as a brother would, but they also rooted for me and knew I was capable of keeping up with them.  That team made me show up season after season to prove I belonged and it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me as a young girl.Those same guys showed up at my Varsity games to cheer for me and 20+ years later, I can still reach out to them if I need them. Even today, I relate more easily to guys and even my career has been in a male-dominated industry.  Pretty interesting.

All of this background is to share that everyone in my life has been integral to my development.  Each person has helped form the person I am.  I love that I have grown enough in the past few years that I am making time for these people, even when, on paper, I don't have time.  A friend from elementary school will be close by next week and I will make every effort to meet up.  A good friend gave birth to her second child today. Another friend wakes up daily to fight for her life.  I want to be there for all of them...... and it's not solely for me.   I want it for them.  So they know that they are important.  That they are worth making time for.

We are all blessed in different ways.  Embrace your blessings.  Revel in them.  Surely someone else is envious of you. It's ok... you're probably envious of them too.  But your heart... THAT, you have control of.  Let it drive you, but let it stop you in your tracks sometimes too.

 Live your life.  Make it full of goodness.